Halifax 40 Keighley Cougars 20: Cougars are left one step behind as Halifax add another win

HALIFAX secured their second Co-operative Championship victory in four days, beating near neighbours Keighley in a free-scoring game at The Shay.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Apr 2010, 10:57 BST
Updated 9th Apr 2010, 10:58 BST

The Cougars, buoyed by victory over Dewsbury on Easter Monday, opened the scoring, the former Sheffield stand-off Jon Presley producing some trademark footwork to cut inside and score on the right-hand side.

Danny Jones, the Cougars' former Halifax scrum-half, could not add the conversion and Halifax levelled almost immediately.

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Their Australian half-back Ben Black did the damage, sending a flat pass out to centre James Haley, who cut through the defence to touch down.

Lee Paterson added the goal for a 6-4 lead and although Jones equalised for Keighley just shy of the half hour, it was the home side who were consistently the more dangerous in attack.

They finally made the breakthrough in the 33rd minute, Papua New Guinea veteran Stanley Gene bulldozing his way through from Black's pass to put Halifax 10-6 ahead.

And when London-born winger Rob Worrincy capped a searing midfield break from Black four minutes before the interval, with Paterson adding the conversion, Halifax were good value for their 16-6 advantage.

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But it was a determined Keighley who hit back to open the second-half scoring, defying a glut of early pressure and marching up field where centre Tom Burton scored his side's second try of the night.

Jones missed the conversion, but at 16-10, Keighley were very much back in the game.

However, Halifax stretched their lead within two minutes, Sean Penkywicz scoring between the posts and Paterson making it 22-10 with the boot.

Keighley narrowed the gap with Andy Shickell's try, the prop touching down Jones's kick, and the half-back adding the conversion to cut the gap to a score at 22-16.

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Again, the response was instant, Halifax substitute Dylan Nash touching down, and Paterson giving Halifax a 28-16 lead.

The home side then added further tries from Stephen Bannister and Paterson to close out a comfortable win, with James Haythornwaite adding a consolation for Keighley.

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Halifax: Royston; Paterson, Goddard, Haley, Worrincy; Bowman, Black; Ostick, Penkywicz, Maloney, Larder, Gene, Beswick. Substitutes: Tamghart, Watene, Nash, Bannister

Keighley: Rayner; Moss, Burton, Williams, Duffy; Presley, Jones; Shickell, Wray, Benjafield, Baines, Cartledge, Sagar. Substitutes: Feather, Nicholson, Rawlins, Haythornthwaite

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham)

Related topics:Halifax